Figure 4. MG reprogrammed upon fusion with Wnt-activated HSPCs generates new photoreceptors.

(A and B) Representative immunostainings of YFP⁺ (green) hybrids also immunoreactive for either GS (red, white arrows) or recoverin (red, yellow arrows) detected in MNU-damaged Gfap-Cre retinas 1 week after transplantation of untreated (A) or BIO-treated (B) HSPCs^R26Y. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). n = 3. (C) Statistical analysis of the number of photoreceptor nuclear rows in the ONL of healthy (WT) or MNU-damaged eyes 1 week after treatment with either PBS or untreated (HSPCs) or BIO-treated HSPCs (BIO-HSPCs) or BIO alone. Data are represented as mean ± SD counted in 3 different sections spanning the site of the injection for each mouse. n = 9. ***P < 0.0001, unpaired Student’s t test. (D) Representative immunodetection of BrdU-positive cells (red) also positive for the photoreceptor marker recoverin (green) in the ONL of MNU-damaged Gfap-Cre retinas 1 week after transplantation of BIO-treated HSPCs^R26Y. Nuclei were counterstained with DAPI (blue). Insert represents a higher magnification of the region in the white square. (n = 3). Scale bars: 20 μm.